Growing-Degree Units For Selected Agricultural Locations In Alaska

Paper copies in Archives, Acc #:2013-0059It is well known that the rate at which a plant grows is influenced by air temperature. The problem is to define this relationship in a quantitative manner so that the information can be applied to agricultural problems. In places where growth of a particular crop is limited by the length of the growing season, an evaluation of the "heat-units" available is particularly important. Many heat-unit systems have evolved over the years, with certain advantages claimed for each. In crop production, heat unit systems are used to estimate the time required for a crop to go from one stage of development to another, usually from planting to harvest. Each heat-unit system produces a particular set of values, the values being determined by the relationship between temperature and growth that is assumed in the calculations. This paper lists heat-units available in six areas in Alaska, all having agricultural potential. The system used measures temperature in "growing-degree units" and is described in detail. Recent comparative studies of growing season and growing degree days leads to the conclusion that the temperature records taken at Big Delta may have been favorably affected by the nearness of the weather recording station to an extensive coated runway. The "flywheel" effect of this large heat sink appear to have reduced the occurrence of 32°F. night temperatures in both the spring and fall, making the growing degree accumulation unrealistic.Introduction and general comments -- Description of Stations -- Results and discussion -- Summary -- References -- Appendix -- Figures: Fig. 1 Average weekly growing degree units for Matanuska Experiment Station; Big Delta; University Experiment Station, Fairbanks; Homer; Kasilof; and Kodiak. Fig. 2 Seasonal growing degree unites (May 15 to 1st 30°F or lower temperature in fall) which will be equaled or exceeded for varying probability levels at Big Delta, Matanuska Experiment Station and University Experiment Station, Fairbanks. Fig. 3 Seasonal growing degree units (May 15 to 1st 30°F or lower temperature in fall) which will be equaled or exceeded for varying probability levels ta Homer, Kasilof, and Kodiak. Tables: Table 1 Comparison of growing-degree units (GDU) for Clearwater and Big Delta for the period 1965-70. Table 2 Highest, lowest and average weekly GDU values for Big Delta, and values which will be equaled or exceeded for given probabilities. Table 3 Highest, lowest and average weekly GDU values for Homer and values which will be equaled or exceeded for given probabilities. Table 4 Highest, lowest and average weekly GDU values for Kasilof and values which will be equaled or exceeded for given probabilities. Table 5 Highest, lowest and average weekly GDU values for Kodiak and values which will be equaled or exceeded for given probabilities. Highest, lowest and average weekly GDU values for the Matanuska Experiment Station, and values which will be equaled or exceeded for given probabilities. Table 7 Highest, lowest and average weekly GDU values for the University Experiment Station, Fairbanks and values which will be equaled or exceeded for given probabilities at 6 Alaska locations. Table 8 Highest, lowest and average monthly GDU values and values which will be equaled or exceeded for given probabilities at 6 Alaska locations. Table 9 Highest, lowest and average seasonal GDU values and values which will be equaled or exceeded for given probabilities for the period May 15 to date of first 30°F or lower temperature in the fall at 6 Alaska locations

Getting a start in dairying in Alaska

Dairying in Alaska probably will always be confined to areas where milk can reach city markets readily. The demand £or fresh milk, even at present prices, exceeds the supply. Probably the dairy farmer always will be able to produce milk in competition with fluid mlik shipped in from the States if he is a good manager and has high producing cows. A farmer with low producing cows can show a profit at present prices, but if the price of milk dropped two dollars or more per hundred, he would have a tough time making both ends meet. It is doubtful if other dairy products can be produced in Alaska to compete with stateside prices

Precipitation Probabilities for Selected Sites in Alaska

Paper copies in Archives, Acc #:2013-0059This publication is the result of cooperation between many research entities whose separate contributions have made it possible to assemble this information concerning precipitation in the nation's largest state, Alaska. The program to extract precipitation probabilities from the raw data was developed by Drs. L. D. Bark and A. M. Feyerherm of Kansas State University of Agriculture and Applied Science as a contribution to the regional research of the North Central Committee NC-26 concerned with "Weather Information for Agriculture". The program was modified and adapted to a higher speed computer by Dr. G. L. Ashcroft of the Utah State University of Agriculture and Applied Science as a contribution of the Western regional Committee W-48, concerned with "Weather and its Relation to Agriculture. The final processing of Alaskan data was made possible by the close cooperation of the Western Data Processing Center of the University of California at Los Angeles and the personnel of the computer center of the University of Alaska at College.Foreword (with acknowledgement) -- Introduction and General Comments -- Figure 1: Chart of Mean Annual Precipitation -- Use of Precipitation Probabilities for Alaska -- Explanation and Discussion of Data Tabulations -- Table 1: Precipitation Means and Probabilities for 1, 2, and 3-Week Periods at: Adak, Anchorage, Bethel, Big Delta, Eagle, Fairbanks ( College Experiment Farm), Fort Yukon, Holy Cross, Homer, Iliamna, Kasilof, Ketchikan, Kodiak, McGrath, Matanuska (Matanuska Experiment Farm), Nome, Talkeetna -- Bibliography and Reference Materia

Corn drying

Published June 1937. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalo

A lamp-type electric pig brooder

Published June 1940. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalo

Oats and Barley growing and storing grain in Alaska's Matanuska and Tanana valleys, 1957-1958

Plant before June 1 for best yields and quality, and to improve chances for a September harvest. Control weeds to improve acre yields, to utilize fertilizer efficiently, and to reduce storage problems caused by wet weed seed. Do not rely on field drying grain to a safe storage moisture content. Have some means of artificial drying ready at harvest time. Plan on September harvest to utilize the best chance of favorable field drying conditions, and to reduce shattering losses.This report was made possible by the assistance of the Matanuska Valley Farmers Cooperating Association, and all farmers who volunteered information. Advising in the study were Roscoe Taylor and Charles Marsh. Protein analyses were by Margaret Blom. Data were compiled by Lee Allen and Don Pollock.Plantings and yields -- Sampling -- Planting dates -- Weeds -- Acre yields -- Moisture and harvest -- Drying costs -- Crude protei

Irrigation in Alaska's Matanuska Valley

United States Department of Agriculture, United States Bureau of Reclamation, Alaska's Soil Conservation Service, Matanuska Electric AssociationRainfall and other sources -- How much water is needed -- How fast it can be applied -- When water is needed -- Potato response -- Carrot response -- Bromegrass pasture response -- Bromegrass hay response -- Timothy response -- Cost and returns -- Profits -- Field layouts -- Pumping costs -- Pasture research procedure

Solar and Net Radiation At Palmer, Alaska 1960-71

Paper copies in Archives, Acc #:2013-0059Solar and net radiation received at Palmer, Alaska (61 ° 3 6 ’ N. lat., 1 49° 0 6 ’ W. long.) have been observed fo r m ore than ten years. On a yearly basis, the daily average incoming global short wave radiation has been 219.1 langleys, and net radiation has been 70.0 langleys. From May 3 thru August 1, net radiation averages 221 .2 langleys. This is 2.571 kilowatt hours per square meter, or 8 15 .2 Btu per square foot (English units). From November 1 thru January 3 0, net radiation is negative, showing an energy loss of 54.2 langleys per day. This is equivalent to 0.63 0 kilowatt hours per square meter or 199.8 Btu per square foot.Acknowledgement -- Introduction and general comments -- Instrumentation and data handling -- Results and discussion -- References -- Explanation of Data, tables and charts: Figure 1 - Pattern of global hemispherical radiation Net radiation - Mean, June 1960-1971, Table 1 - Solar radiation at Palmer, Alaska, Latitude 61* 36' N, Table 2 - Net radiation at Palmer, Alaska, Latitude 61* 36' N, Table 3 - Solar energy received on a horizontal surface at various latitude

A hop drier for Oregon farms

Published February 1950. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalo

The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project

Genome-wide association studies have identified thousands of loci for common diseases, but, for the majority of these, the mechanisms underlying disease susceptibility remain unknown. Most associated variants are not correlated with protein-coding changes, suggesting that polymorphisms in regulatory regions probably contribute to many disease phenotypes. Here we describe the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project, which will establish a resource database and associated tissue bank for the scientific community to study the relationship between genetic variation and gene expression in human tissues